'DON'T WORRY -we've not forgotten about our friends in That is how one Linby miner greeted at strikers' meeting last week.
In spite of the hectic activity of the campaign he NUM, Notts miner:
still find time to discuss Nicaraguan Aid Project organised by the Nottingham Central America Solidarity Campaign (CASC).
Members of CASC returned been touring the Notts area, women's groups. In bacular LUCY have been reporting on their USCUSSIULS with the miners of the La Libertad gold mine.
The Nicaraguan miners ALC staunch defenders the revolution, and have told their government that they prepared forgo basic clothing and resources for fighting the US-backed contras CASC is asking Notts miners women - 10 collect items 0 г contribute funds for the miners at La Liberlad, that boots, overts. safety gloves and helmets can be sent for Nicaragua at the end of the year.
So far, Hucknall Bulwell Labour both run by ex-strikers, have. £30 £20. Hucknall organise a public meeting September.
Several individuals have already donated items to CASC, Campaign has also been asked to send speakers 10 Sutton miners of Commons last week.
that police The manual was drawn Chiel Police Officers (ACPO). This body has no official status, association top cops. The manual was drawn after the Brixton, Bristol and Toxteth riots in 1981 - and it is probable that it also drew on the experience of the RUC Northern Ireland The tactics outlined in the manual concern the use of long-shield short-shield police. long shield used in riots is unsuitable the rapid deployment of police, the strategy is for the longshield police to provide the tion, while short-shield ponce act as snatch sauads and dispersal units.
The include details of how police Sections of this miners' deal I'he manual states, under that: 'On the command, the shortshield officers will run forward either through and/or round the long shields into the crowd for not more than 30 yards. They disperse the crowd incapacitate missileLowes and by striking in a controlled manner with batons about the arms and legs or torThe instructions 'disperse and/or incapacitate' are repeated in the manual. That these instructions were carried out with enthusiasm during the strike by the police is in no doubt. Whether blows and legs or torso' may be left to the imagination.
The Orgreave trial showed, however, that the police WELC RUI aimed at missile-throwing roters. A kev part of the the media campaign around Orgreave was a BBC video of the 'riot' which showed the police apparently responding to stoning.
Tony Benn pointed out ians slatement oreored prepared for the House of Commons that 'atter the events CYCLILO Orgreave last year. ministers, police chiefs and the media spoke about the "riot" thai occurred Indeed, the BBC showed TV film in which missiles were sech as Delng unrown before the police advancThe Crown then decided to prosecute to riot and the case was heard recent v In Sheffield Crown Court...
'Yet when the case police what had happened was very different, and that the police horses had advanc. ed upon peaceful crowds. some of whom had also been viciously attacked by truncheons wielded by the police, "This confirmed the information given to me at the time by staff at BBC news that the BBC news CLOT had deliberately transposed the film he had received to give the In March five workers from the Phurnacite plant at Aberewmboi in the Cynon Valley received notice of their suspension. The following day they received instant dismissal. Their names had been given to the National Smokeless Fuels (NSF) management by Paul Watson the strikebreaker who worked throughout the strike. Watson alleges the five men spat at him and called him a scab.
Bobby nerotter Viv Wais, John Graham James, and Kelvin Bevan now await the hearing an industrial tribunal for which no date RED talked to Annette yet been SUE Roberts, Merrilyn Davies, and Audrey Winterburn the Abercwmboi Sacked Miners' Support Group.
The Abercwmboi sup. port group was set up to give moral support those victimised and to raise as much publicity as possible. was the sackings were just to make an example. Joy and Paul Watson received press publicity support throughout the strike. was no coincidence that the five were suspended pression that the police charges TOOWED throwing of stones, when the exact opposite had occurred.' The manual, much of which is still secret, has adopted by the Home Office and will be in regular use. The instructions in the manual are in clear breach of ofnationally publicised the day after there was national television coverage of an incident with Joy Watson on the picket " The Sun headline read "Thugs and bully boys.
Annette Roberts explained the events leading up to the dismissals. 'After the return to work Watson was normally accompanied to the baths of the plant by the shift manager. But on this day he refused it. He walked into the plant across the line of thirty men and then back out again.
'He then approached the manager to complaint. Watson alleged he had been spat at and called a scab.
'Watson was checked for spittle but was clean did distress. He then gave the names of the five men. All of them were very strong supporters of and had been on the picket lines.' men the Phurnacite came out immediately they knew the men had been sacked along with other pits in the But the NSF said they would not negotiate at all if the men stayed out. So at a meeting the unior advised the men to go back.
The Phurnacite lodge supporting the men's claim for reinstatement allu. least until the ficially declared police regulations the deliberate attempt to incapacitate "ringleaders' is intended to injure and intimidate demonstrators The doctored BBC was a basis for the at rereave and the about 'violence'. But women weekly at meetings All the money raised is for glving - the five have their jobs support group made badges the Phurner poetry book for the with the union from Anne Clwyd, MP for the Cynon support these revelations show that it was the stale and lIk police which caused the riot. They also show that methods of policin developed in Ireland have come to BriLall lo stay.
The Labour movement must demand the publication of this police manual in full.
sidering a lobby of Parliament-around amnesty.
Merrilyn explained they saw action as urgent: "If we don't act soon there will be no pits left. It's no good just talk: ing - we should be doing something 'Penrhiweiber Bedwas are being closed. I feel strongly about how the valleys are being run into the ground. Things are be ing taken and not replaced. Soon there will be no men left to argue for action in the lodges.
All the women felt that associate membership of the NUM for the women's support groups would be a good thing - but were rather sceptical of the role women would be allowed to play in the area. 'When it comes to something important they tell us to shut up. The only time they take notice is when they want something done.' Whatever the outcome of the appeal the women's organisation agrees that it is here to stay. The laun ching of the national Scargill, they feel, will give them more scope perhaps stir people up Merrilyn summed up their view again: "There is plenty to fight for. Arthur Scargill was right when he said seventy pits would close. has always been so militant I think they just want to get rid of us.
'People say we're go ing to damage the cause by making a fuss. What are doing damage? There will be nothing let soon. How can we do more damage than they are?' • To contact the campaign phone 0443 472179
----- pull-quotes -----
Notts remember
R eins VOMEN